This update of a Cochrane review of the relative benefits and harms of different surgical treatment modalities for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers includes 15 RCTs. Moderate-certainty evidence from 5 RCTs showed trials that elective neck dissection of clinically negative neck nodes at the time of removal of the primary oral cavity tumour is superior to therapeutic neck dissection, with increased survival and disease-free survival, and reduced locoregional recurrence.
[read the full story...]Elective neck dissection versus observation for T1-2 oral squamous cell carcinoma
Manas Dave looks at a review of elective neck dissection (END) versus observation for the management of T1-2 oral squamous cell carcinoma. The review included 41 studies only 5 were RCTs the remainder being retrospective studies.
[read the full story...]Elective neck dissection for early stage oral cancer?
This UK multi-centre RCT of elective neck dissection(END) for early stage oral cancer found higher rates for overall and disease free survival in those patients having END.
[read the full story...]Oral Cancer: Elective neck dissection or watch and wait?
There is an ongoing debate about the management of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and clinically negative cervical lymph nodes. Some clinicians favour preventive elective neck dissection (END) which although is linked with favourable survival has an adverse effect on quality of life while others adopt a wait and watch policy. The aim [read the full story…]
Oral Cancer: Elective or therapeutic neck dissection?
This review of neck dissection (END) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity and clinically N0 neck included 6 studies suggesting fewer recurrences with END, but the evidence of very low quality.
[read the full story...]